Mark Roundings

Making clean mark roundings during a sailboat race can spell the difference between maintaining a lead and losing a pack of boats. Many of us are focused on gaining an advantage in a race to stay ahead or to catch boats. Having a bad mark rounding can really cost you, gain or add to your lead.

In this short video, Champion sailor Peter Vaiciurgis, from NS14.org, shares his thoughts on Mark Roundings.

Keep up your speed
Position, position, position

The Rudder

Before the start, wide movements of the rudder can be effective.

After the start, Peter tries not to move his tiller more than 4 inches.

As the boat moves faster, smaller movements of the rudder can make a big difference. Consider riding a bike. If you’re going slower, you can turn faster with bigger movements of the handle bars. However, if you’re flying down a hill, then bigger movements of the handle bars can spell disaster.

Steering the boat

Sails – Primary
Hull – Secondary
Rudder – Last, too often the rudder can turn into a brake, if used aggressively.

Making the Turn

Leeward Marks

Tight – Tight: NO. Slow. Lets other boats round with more speed and pass you.

Tight – Wide: NO. Lose height on course and leave room for other boats to round above you.

Wide – Tight: YES. Gentle turn. Maintain maximum speed. Full speed and sheets tight when the buoy is in line with the skipper’s back.

Windward Mark

Tight – Wide: Entering tight means that you’ve sailed less distance.

Reaching Mark

Depends on your position regarding other boats.

Nobody close: Wide – Wide.

Boats behind and want to go high after mark: Wide – Tight and high.

Boats behind and want to go low after mark: Tight – Wide.

Position

Anticipate where you want to be at the mark before you get close to it. Focus on how you will exit the mark – speed and position relative to other boats. In one-design boats, typically sailors anticipate positioning way early in the leg.